Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sometimes we cling to outward habits and forget the heart behind them.
Going through the motions without love leaves us restless, still circling.
Chasing what harms us pulls us into grabbing and greed.
Doing religious things without love leaves the heart restless.
Karam here means rituals, the outward things we do. The verse speaks of people who hold on to many of them manhath, stubbornly, without understanding. It calls them agi-aanee andhaa, not knowing and not seeing. This can happen to anyone, in any tradition. The verse is aimed at empty habits, never at any faith.
Such habits keep us going around in circles. The chase after bikhi-aa, poison, leads to greed and grabbing. It leaves us at durmat kaa doraahaa, a fork in the road of confused thinking. Think of saying "sorry" while rolling your eyes. The word is there, but the heart is missing. When the heart turns back toward love, the pull begins to ease.
What is a habit of yours that feels most alive when your heart is in it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI